Wenger has built a reputation as a fine assessor of young talent and has filled the Arsenal youth set up with foreign nationals who can be signed for minimal transfer fees and then nurtured at the club.

Club captain Cesc Fabregas was largely unknown outside Barcelona before he was picked up by Wenger, who then turned him in to a top level international player.

However, Rummenigge was damning of Wenger’s transfer policy which he likened to the human trafficking of minors.

“Wenger signs hosts of players from France and elsewhere year-in, year-out,” said Rummenigge.